Things To Do Today In London: Tuesday 20 August 2019

Things to do

OPERA IN THE CITY: Music festival Opera in the City begins today, aiming to make the art form accessible to all. Tonight's event is the UK premiere of Caccia Lontana, an opera of courtly intrigue and forbidden love by Croatian-Italian composer Antonio Smareglia. St Bride's (Fleet Street), various prices, book ahead, 20 August-7 September

JURASSIC PARK: Babble Talks — a series of lectures aimed at carers with babies under 1 year old — tackles the topic of Jurassic Park. Natural History Museum curator Dr Susie Maidment gives a talk about the science behind the films, and whether the events on screen could really happen. Adults without babies also welcome. Crouch End Picturehouse, £10, book ahead, 11.30am-12.30pm

PETER PAN: Join a family-friendly walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, themed on Peter Pan. Follow in the footsteps of author JM Barrie and see the real-life spots that inspired him. Fancy dress is encouraged, with prizes for the best-dressed children. Kensington Gardens, £5, book ahead, 11.30am-12.30pm

A ROYAL PROGRESS: Take an evening tour of the Museum of the Order of St John, focusing on the royal history of the building. Find out about the Clerkenwell Priory, founded by Henry II, and the beginnings of the St John’s Ambulance service under Queen Victoria, all told through objects in the museum. Museum of the Order of St John (Clerkenwell), £10-£12, book ahead, 6pm

RANDOM ACTS: Watch a series of five-minute films, covering everything from homoerotic wrestling to paternal confrontation in the Scottish wilderness. The event is part of Channel 4's short film strand Random Acts, and is followed by some of the directors and actors talking about their work. Somerset House, £10, book ahead, 6.30pm

DREAMS OF A LIFE: 2011 documentary Dreams of a Life tells the story of Joyce Vincent, who died in her bedsit in 2003 but wasn't discovered until three years later. It pieces together imagined interviews with some of the people in her life. This screening is followed by a Q&A with director Carol Morley. Bertha DocHouse (Bloomsbury), £9/£7/£5, book ahead, 6.30pm

ORGAN CONCERT: Renowned concert organist Colin Walsh performances pieces by Bach, Mozart, Franck and Vierne on the Willis pipe organ in the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace. The instrument has undergone much restoration over a long and complicated history and tonight’s a chance to hear it as its best. Alexandra Palace, £16.50, book ahead, 7pm

THE JAILER'S DAUGHTER: New theatre show The Jailer's Daughter describes itself as "a twisted mash up of Love Island, Shakespeare and Black Mirror". Based on the Shakespeare character of the same epithet, it's set in a live-televised celebrity jail, and explores the theme of sacrificing human rights for the sake of reality TV. Space (Mudchute), £14/£12, book ahead, 7.30pm (until 24 August)

Tube ponderings with Barry Heck

Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.

The tube network contains many 'ghost stations', places where trains no longer stop but the building (and sometimes platforms) remains. Some of these like Aldwych and Down Street are pretty well known, and even open to occasional tours. But have you ever noticed these telltale tiles facing out onto Knightsbridge? This is the former entrance to Hyde Park Corner tube station, designed by Leslie Green in the early 20th century. It saw its last passengers in 1932, when the new entrance opened beneath the roundabout. It's now an upmarket hotel, named the Wellesley after onetime local Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. Before that, it was a pizza restaurant. Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.

Good cause of the day

Take part in a pub quiz and a raffle tonight in aid of Action For Education. Quiz for Education takes place in King's Cross, with prizes to be won and food and drink available to buy. Find out more and book tickets.